The Senate is locked in an emotional debate this morning over SB 1146a, the bill to legalize a non-psychotropic form of cannabidiol oil, which is extracted from cannabis, for treatment of children with an intractable form of epilepsy that causes severe and sustained, and eventually life-threatening, seizures. “Wouldn’t you want to have the opportunity to try something promising?” asked Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum. “Promising plant-based oil that could significantly reduce seizures and improve your loved one’s quality of life? … These families just want a chance.”

Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, said, “This is an illegal substance across the country. … If it’s truly a drug that should be legalized, it should follow the right process.” Sen. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, said, “We have federal law that says we can’t use marijuana in this state. … I truly want to help Claire and Alexis and all the families like them, but I don’t want to break the law. … Marijuana is illegal in this country. … I’m afraid compassion is inching us down a road that logic will not allow us to go.”

Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, said, “We’re talking today about allowing children with a specific diagnosis to use low-THC cannabidiol oil. We’re not talking about the use of marijuana.” Tippets said if any of us saw a child about to be hit by a car, we wouldn’t wait for the traffic light to change. “We would dash across the street to help the child.” He said, “Some children are seeing dramatic improvement with the use of CBD oil. … Senators, I personally see no down side and a huge up side to passage of this legislation. Please don’t run to the corner and wait for the traffic light to change before running across the street to help these children. It’s time that we run across the street today to help these children.”

Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, said, “I beg your pardon, but if our police enforcement, prosecutors in this state can’t tell the difference between a bona fide drug dealer and a family that has a child suffering from intractable epilepsy, well then shame on them, shame on them.” He said, “We can’t wait for five or six years before addressing these issues. Some of these kids, as I’ve talked to the parents, go into such hard seizures that they don’t know if they’re going to live when they come out of that seizure.” His voice breaking, he said emotion is proper on this issue, and asked, “How can you watch a child suffer and not be compelled to do everything we can do to help that child?”

Hagedorn said, "This is not an emotional decision - can't be. We are not the Idaho Drug Administration. We are the Idaho Senate."